The Question That Keeps Anxious Kids Awake at Night |
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Nighttime worries are common, but they don't have to take over the evening.
Overthinking fuels "What ifs," leading to a strong need for certainty.
Kids need to feel just safe enough to let their thoughts quiet down, rather than go away.
For anxious children and teens, the hardest part of the day isn't school, homework, or even social situations; it is bedtime. A child who may have even seemed fine an hour or so earlier is now emotionally amped up.
Kids in my office repeat the upsetting thought loops that stick in their minds at night. They include worries like, "What if something bad happens tonight?"; "What if I can't fall asleep?"; "What if someone breaks in?"; "What if someone in my family gets sick and dies?"; or "What if I mess up that test?"
And the list goes on. Parents often hear these questions........